Receptacle filling and closing apparatus



E. E. LAWRENCE. RECEPTACLE FILLING AND CLOSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED .IUNE I5. I9I6.

Patentd Jan. 11,1921.

I5 SHEETS-SHEEI I- E. E. LAWRENCE.

RECEPTACLE FILLING ND CLOSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED IUNE 15. 1916.

1 65,415. Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

\5 SHEETS-SHEEN 2- E. E. LAWRENGE. RECEPTACLE FILLING AND CLOSING APPARATUS.

APPLiCATION FILED JUNE 15,1916.

15 SHEETS-:SHEEI 3.

Patented Jan 11,1921. Y

I E. E. LAWRENCE. RECEPTACLE FILLING AND CLOSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15. I916- Patented Jan; 11, 1921.

I5 SHEETS-SHEEI 4- v ll 7 k I I 5 nvewtoz ZWM 5, WM

$3) awe (442% E. E. LAWRENCE. RECEPTACLE FILLING AND CLOS-ING APPARATUS.

l\ wuawtoz 5M WW atto'rmuaa.

E. E. LAWRENCE.

RECEPTACLE FILLING AND CLOSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I5; IQIB. 113,365,415. Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

I5 SHEETS-SHEEI 6- I s um mm: wml mS u E. E. LAWRENCE.

RECEPTACLE FILLING AND CLOSING APPARATUS.

' APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15. l9l6- 1,365,415. Patented Jan. 11,1921.

l5 SHEETS-SHEEI 7.

E. E. LAWRENCE.

RECEPTACLEFILLING AND CLOSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15, I9I6.

Patented Jan. 11,1921. 15 shins-"sum 8-- NMM v I E. E. LAWRENCE. RECEPTAGLE FILLING AND CLOSING APPARATUS.

Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

I5 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE l5, 1916.

I E. E. LAWRENCE. RECEPTACLE FILLING AND CLOSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE :5, 1916.

. Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

I5 SHEETS-SHEEI 1o.

awvewtoz 2' (FM um 3J1, fitter/"e13 7 z WW E.- E. LAWRENCE.

RECEPTACLE FILLING AND CLOSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED sum: 15. ms.

1,365,415. Ptented Jan. 11,1921.

I 5 SHEETS-SHEET I l- E. E. LAWRENCE.

RECEPTACLE FILLING AND CLOSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15, I9I6.

J 1,365,415. Patented Jan. 11,192

I5 SHEETS-SHEEI l2- E. E. LAWRENCE! RECEPT'ACLE FILLING AND CLOSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I5, I9I6.

1,365,415. v Patented Jan. 11,1921.

l5 SHEETS-SHEEI 13.

@391 eltbozwzw E. E. LAWRENCE.

RECEPTACL E HLLING AND CLOSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15, 1916.

a Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

E.'E. LAARENCE;

RECEPTACLE FILLING AND CLOSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED WM 15. I916. I

' Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

l5 SHtlzIS-SHEEI l5.

A /06 fad? A VLUGi/UL'O'D @31 attozlnel a,

Z My 01/40.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD E. LAWRENCE, OF JAMAICA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO LOOSE-WILES BISCUIT COMPANY, OF LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

RECEPTAOLE FILLING AND CLOSING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented J an. 11, 1921.

Application filed June 15, 1916. Serial No. 103,875.

dent of Jamaica, in the county of Queens and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Receptacle Filling and Closing Apparatus, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like 1 partially in section, of one form of appa' characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to receptacle filling and closing apparatus, and particularly to apparatus for filling cartons with oyster crackersand for closing said cartons.

In order that the principle of the invention may be readily understood, I have disclosed a single embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, wherein-- Figure l'is a right hand side elevation,

ratus embodying my invention; Fig. 2 1s a top plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a left hand side elevation, par- 1 tially in section, of said apparatus;

Fig. 4 is an elevation from the discharge end of said apparatus, the discharge chute being omitted and the filling troughs being in section;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal, longitudinal section of the apparatus taken just above the troughs for the sprocket belt conveyers upon the line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a view, partially in transverse section upon the line 6- -6 of Fig. 5 and partially in end elevation looking from the feeding in end of the machine; 1

Fig. 7 is a right hand side elevation of the apparatus, partially in longitudinal section, upon the line 7-'Zof Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a detail in top plan view upon an enlarged scale of the end flap folding members and the member for folding the upstanding front wall of the lining;

Fig. 9 is a view of the same partsdiiferently positioned;

Fig. 10 is a view in vertical section of the carton closing devices and certain of Fig. 12 is a plan view upon an enlarged scale of certain of the carton closing devices;

.Fig. 13 is a vertical section upon the line 1313 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 12 of the parts differently positioned;

Fig. 15 is a vertical section upon the line 15-15 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a view similar to Fig. 12 but with the parts differently positioned;

Fig. 17 is a vertical section upon the line 17-17 of Fig. 16;

Fig-18 is a view similar to Fig. 16, but with the parts difl'erently'positioned;

Fig. 19 is a vertical section upon the line 19-19 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a vertical section upon the line 20-20 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 21 is a view in vertical section disclosing the means for depositing the crackers in the carton;

Fig. 22 is a transverse section upon the.

line 22-22 of Fig. 21;

Fig. 23 is a vertical longitudinal section While the apparatus herein disclosed may be used in other relations, it is particularly intended for use in filling paste-board cartons with oyster crackers and thereafter closing the carton by infolding the upstanding flaps or cover portions thereof. In the disclosed embodiment of my invention, the crackers are deposited in any suitable man ner upon a traveling support and are thereby deposited in a series of pockets formed in or carried by a rotating member. The disclosed embodiment of my invention is of a duplex apparatus, and in accordance with such disclosure the crackers are discharged preferably simultaneously from said pockets at opposite sides of the machine into cartons which are fed by conveyers into osition beneath the discharging pockets. A ter filling, the upstanding flap or cover portions of the cartons are folded down and the cartons are then discharged from the apparatus. My invention is in no wise limited to the disclosure herein made, as it is evident that many changes can be made within the scope and purpose of my invention. Referring more particularly to the drawings, the framing is herein represented as consisting of a series of uprights 1 at opposite sides, and at the ends of the machine are transverse cross ppr tie members 2, most clearly represented in The crackers or other articles with which the receptacles are to be filled are deposited by hand or otherwise in a hopper 3 at the feeding-in end of the machine. The bottom of said hopper is composed of an open mesh, endless apron 4, preferably formed of wire and mounted for movement in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 7, upon rolls 5, 6v supported in the framing of the machine and continuously driven as hereinafter described.

Preferably by the rolls 5, 6 the crackers or.

other articles are fed upwardly and the crumbs are discharged through the meshes of the belt onto a transverse sheathing '7 here shown as fiat and which may, if desired, as shown in Fig. 7, extend from front to rear of the machine as well as from side to side thereof. If desired the rear portion of said sheathing 7 may be downwardly inclined toward the feeding-in end of the machine throughout the extent thereof, that is, vertically beneath said feeding-in apron l, whereby the crumbs falling through said apron accumulate at the lowest portion of said sheathing for ready removal.

The crackers are delivered from the apron 4 and are deposited through any suitable distributing device. For that purpose I have herein represented a disk-like member 8 mounted upon a vertical pivot and having a series of pockets 9 into which the crackers are deposited in the rotation of said disk-like member. One or more operatives stand at the feeding-in end of the machine and keep a sufficient supply of crackers upon the apron 4:, thus insuring the filling of all the pockets 9. In order to prevent overfilling of the pockets and the proper. distribution of the crackers, I preferably provide two brushes 10, 11 shown most clearly in Fig. 4.. The brush 10 is a stationary one and is positioned transversely of the disk-like member 8 substantially midway fromfront to rear thereof and at one side of the longitudinal center of the machine for the purpose of preventing the crackers from accidentally getting from the feeding end of the machine into the filling pockets after the pockets have been properly filled and prior to the discharge thereof. Preferably I employ such a device, inasmuch as in the disclosed embodiment of my invention, certain of the pockets are not. discharged until the disk 8 has turned at least through 180 of rotation subsequent to the filling thereof. The said member is rotated in a clockwise direction in Fig. 2, and it will therefore be observed that each pocket after filling passes first under the rotary brush 11. This brush is turned in a clockwise direction and brushes back surplus crackers from the filled pockets toward the filling apron 4. As will be more fully pointed out hereinafter, alternate pockets are discharged in proximity to the rotary brush 11, but the remaining pockets are not discharged until in the vicinity of the stationary brush 10, and there is danger that the last mentioned pockets may accidentally receive an oversupply of crackers if the stationary brush 10 or some other suitable means he not provided for that pur ose.

T e disk-like member 8 is mounted for rotation in a horizontal lane upon a vertical shaft 12 which, as s own most clearly in Fig. 5, has fast upon the lower end thereof a gear 13 meshin with the worm 1t upon a belt driving sha t 15 hereinafter described. The said disk-like member 8 is thereby given a step'by-step movement of rotation in a clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 2. Inasmuch as the apparatus of the disclosed embodiment of the invention is a duplex one, I have provided two beveled chutes 16, 17

charge chute 16 being shown in detail and,

on an enlarged scale in Fig. 21. Each of said discharge chutes is suitably supported by the framing, as illustrated in Fig. 21, and extends at its upper end beneath the discharging position of the pockets. Each of said pockets is provided with a hinged closure 18 normally held in closed position by a spring 19.

As shown most clearly in Figs. -1 and 6, alternate closures 18 are provided With upwardly and outwardly extending, generally L-shaped lugs 20, the remaining closures being provided with outwardly extending or straight lugs 21. Thus, the two sets of lugs 20, 21 terminate in different horizontal planes, where they are provided with terminal rolls 22, 23. The rolls 22 are adapted to engage the lower curved faces 24. of camlike brackets 25 having bases 26 supported upon the frame at 27 and shown most clearly in Fi 21. The remaining or alternate rolls 23, being positioned at a lower level, are not acted upon by the cam-like brackets 25, and hence are not opened at the left-hand side of the machine, viewin Figs. 4 and 6. At the right hand side of t e machine I position a corresponding cam-like bracket at a lower level and along the cam-like surface of of operative position, whereby without stopping the mechanism or any part thereof, the disk-like member 8 may be rotated without discharging the contents of the pockets. While this may be effected in any suitable manner, I have herein represented a hand lever 28 located adjacent each of said cam like brackets, the same being pivotedat 29 upon the machine frame and having inwardly extending arms 30 provided with pins adapted to enter slots 31, wherebythe bases 26 may be slid in or out when the wing nuts 32 have been loosened. Upon adjustment of the said cam-like brackets into or o ut of operative position, the wing nuts are again tightened.

At their lower, outer ends, the discharge chutes 16, 17 are provided with any suitable closure means, as shown most clearly in Figs. 21 and 22, and each has two sets of intermeshing fingers 33, 34 respectively pivoted at 35, 36, as indicated in Fig. 6. The sets of fingers 34 are normally held in closed position bythe action of a.coil spring 37 connected to the pivotal support for the set of fingers 34 and to the exterior of the chute 16, 17 as indicated at 38, and the set of fingers 33 are held in their open or closed position .by the finger operating means hereinafter described. 'The cartons for the oyster crackers or other articles may be of any suitable shape and structure, but Ihave found the form of carton best illustrated. in Figs. 24, 25 and 26, and the blank which is shown in Fig. 29 to be well suited to my purpose. The blank which is formed of a single piece is folded into position so as to have two upstanding end flaps 39, 40 and a longitudinally extending cover member 41. Preferably the carton is provided with a separate lining of wax paper or other suitable material and, as indicated in Figs. 24 to 26, the linin has upwardly extending end portions 42, back portion 43 and front portion 44. The back portion 43 when in upright position extends in parallelism with and flatwise against the cover 41, and the end portions 42 occupy a similar relation with respect to the end flaps 39, 40. The front upstanding portion of the lining, however, extends above the front wall of the carton and as hereinafter described is the first portion of the entire carton to be turned into closed position.

The cartons in open position and with the closure members thereof upstanding as indicated in Fig. 24, are placed transversely upon the two conveyer belts 45,46, shown most clearly in plan view in Fig. 5. These belts are horizontally supported by laterallyextending portions 47, 48 of the frame and may extend preferably outwardly for a considerable distance. They are represented as broken away in Figs. 2 and 5 to save space. These belts are supported at their outer ends by guide pulleys, not herein shown, and at their inner ends theyare supported upon ulleys indicated in dotted lines at 49, 50 in ig. 5, and in full lines 49, 50 in Fig. 6. Thus, it will be seen that the inner ends of the set of belts are brought into close proximity. The said pulleys 49, 50 are respectively mounted upon shafts 51, 52 suitably mounted .in bearings 53-53, 54-54 in cross members of the frame and are provided With gears 55, 56 meshing with'each other so that the two belts are driven in opposite directions in unison. As hereinafter described, gear 56 is loosely mounted upon the shaft 52 and is adapted periodically to be clutched thereto.

As will be hereinafter described, the sa d belts are driven intermittently, and it, is merely necessary for the attendant or attendants to keep a sufficient supply of open cartons upon the belts 45, 46 to insure the inward feeding of the said cartons at the two sides of the machine. As shown most clearly in Fig. 6', between the upper and lower runs of the belts 45. 46 are interposed supporting or guide members 57 58, and I have herein represented uide rolls 59, 59, 60, 60 at the inner ends of said members 57, 58. The pulleys 49, 50 are supported at a lower level than the carton-receiving portions of the belts 45, 46,1and hence. said belts extend at a downward inclination from the guides 59, 60 to said pulleys. I have indicated at 61 in Fig. 6 a guiding roller beneath which the belt 46 extends. As clearly indicated in said Fig. 6, the said belts 45, 46 extend quite abruptly at a downward inclination beneath troughs 62, 63 positioned at right angles to the path of movement of the belts 45, 46; I As shown in Fig. 5, at opposite'sides of the belts 45, 46, I position longitudinally extending guide plates 64-64, 6565, the inner ends of which extend rectly into the troughs 62, 63, so as to guide and support the incoming cartons directly into the said troughs 62, 6:3.

The said troughs are positioned at opposite sides of the machine and directly be neath the discharge end of the chutes 16, 17,

As shown most'clearly in Fig. 21, the bot tom 66 of each trough is recessed and receives therein a sprocket chain 67 having spaced upstanding lugs 68 arranged in pairs sufliciently separated to receive between them the cartons fed in by the belts 45, 46. As hereinafter set forth, the said sprocket chains are intermittently driven and are so timed that they are periodically stopped with the upstanding lugs 68 so positioned as to receive a carton lengthwise therebetween. The movement of 'the sprocket chains is then resumed and the cartons are carried into the filling position and then into the closing position.

' Each sprocket chain 67 is supported at its outer end by an idler or guide sprocket wheel 69 upon the shaft 69, shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 5, and having any suitable means to adjust the same, thereby to cause said sprockets to run with sufficient tautness. At its inner end, each sprocket passes about a sprocket wheel 70 fast upon a transversely extending shaft 71 and having thereon a pinion 72 meshing with the teeth 73 of a mutilated gear 74 mounted upon a shaft 75, whereby 111 each rotation of the said gear 74 each sprocket chain ,is driven through the proper distance to receive and convey one carton. The shaft 71, as shown most clearly in Fig. 5, extends across the machine and at the opposite end is provided with a sprocket pinion to drive the other sprocket chain 67.

I will next describe the parts which co- -act to fold the upstanding portions of the carton or its lining, and thereafter will set forth in detail the means by which the various parts of the apparatus are operated from the motor or driver.

Referring again to Fig. 24, it will be observed that at the front of the trough, the outer wall of which is cut away at the point where the cartons are received therein, the only portion of the carton extending above the outer wall thereof is the portion 44 ofthe lining. In this embodiment of the invent on said upstanding portion of the linmg is the first part to be folded down onto the crackers or other articles which have been deposited in the carton through one of the chutes 16, 17.

In .order to fold down the said upstanding portion 44 of the lining, 1 preferably provide a plate 76 which is supported for slidlng movement in a horizontal plane upon a guideway 77 having side or longitudinal members'78, 79 and an outer cross or end member 80, thus tudinal space 81.

As shown most clearly in Fig. 28, the inner edges of the members 78, 79 are provided with longitudinal grooves for the reception of wedge-like portions 82-82 laterally extending from and integral with the body of a block 83 received in the longitud nal opening 81. The plate 76 is secured by a bolt 84 to the said .block 83 and to the latter is pivotally secured at 85 a link 86 itself pivotally connected at 87 to a lever providing a longi- 88 pivoted at 89 upon an upstanding portion 90 of a bracket 91 bolted at 92 to an upstanding part of the framing of the machine. A coil spring 93 is connected at one the connection of the spring 93 to the block are such that the said spring 93 tends, as the plate 76 begins its inward movement, slightly to tilt or rock upwardly the inner edge of said plate 76, so as to guide it safely over the upstanding edge of the carton proper and the outer upstanding edge of'the trough. At or near the inner ends of the grooves in the members 78, 79 are provided downwardly directed wedge portions 96 under which the wedges 82, 83 are received in the inward movement of the plate 76, thereby to again rock downwardly the said plate 76 and to insure the proper folding down thereby of the upstanding p0rtion 44 of the lining into the position indicated in Fig. 25.

At a suitable time with respect to the infolding of the upstanding portion 44 of the lining and preferably very shortly thereafter, and in practice substantially simultaneously therewith, I down-turn or infold the upstanding end flaps 39, 40 of the carton and the portions 42 of the lining positioned flatwise thereagainst. This I referably accomplish through-the agency 0 two levers 97, 98, shown in detail in Figs. 8 and 9, and in part in Figs. 12, 14, 16,18, 24, 25, 26 and. elsewhere. These levers are provided at their outer free ends with spoon-like heads or ends 99, 100, and viewing particularly Fig. 20 it will be observed that the inwardly directed edges 101, 102 thereof are upturned so that in their inward movement upon contact with the upturned flaps, they will ride safely over the body of the carton, as indicated clearly in Fig. 26. As also clearly indicated in Fig. 20, the opposite or outer ed e of each of the s oon-like heads 99,100 is ongitudinally en ar ed as indicated at 103, so as ,to provide a ongitudinal shoulder 104. In the inward motion of the heads'99, 100, the said shoulders 104 engage the upper edges of the end walls 105 of the body 0 the carton, thereby holding the ends of the carton in proper relation with respect to each other and also insuring the proper positioning of the now downturned end flaps 39, 40, as indicated in Fig. 26.

The levers 97 98 are pivotally mounted at 106, 107 upon a cross arm 108 bolted at D 109 to a block 110 mounted for sliding movelike heads 99, 100. The block 110 has a downwardly extending portion 114 having afface to face relation with the side of the guide 111, and thereto is .pivoted at 115 a link 116, to the inner end whereof at 117 is pivotally connected alever 118 itself pivoted at 119 upon the bracket 91. As shown most-clearly in Figs. 8 and 9 at or near the inner. end of each guide 111, there is bolted or otherwise secured a transversely extending strip 120, the outer ends whereof 'are perforated for the free passage of the threaded ends 121 of rods 122p1voted at 123to rocker arms 124 fast upon the pivots 106, whereby swinging movement is imparted to the levers 97, 98. The outer ends of the rods 122, 123 have stop nuts 125 which may be adjusted to the desired position.

hen the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 8 with the levers 97, 98 most widely separated and in their inner positions, the nuts 125 are out of contact with the transverse strip 120, but in the inward movement of the levers 97,98 upon their supporting block 110, the-stop nuts 125 come into contact with the transverse strip 120, as indicated in Fig. 9, with the result that the spoon-like heads are swung into the position shown in Fig. 9, and thus fold down the end flaps 39, 40 and the adjacent upstanding portions of the lining. The levers 97, 98 and their supporting cross strip 108 may be moved to and fro in any suitable manner, as hereinafter described. Although the same need not be employed, I have herein represented as oooperating in the return or inward movement of said parts a coiled spring 126, the outer end of which is connected at 127 to the transverse strip 108 and the outer end of which is connected at 128 to a rod 129 connected to a post 130 secured to and upstanding from the guide 111.

As shown most clearly in Fig 17 the cover portion 41 of the carton, which is of the same length as the carton itself, is provided with a free edge portion 131 normally lying in a slightly different plane than the port1on'41 of the cover by reason of the fact that the cover is longitudinally creased along substantially the line v132 as indicated in Figs. 17 and 26. I provide suitable means whereby the cover portion 41 and the part of the lining that s upstandin and is positioned thereagaint are folds down. onto the now in-folded front portion of the lining and end fiaps,'and I also provide means for so guiding the edge portion 131 that it is inserted between the lining and the outerupstanding wall 133 of the carton, as indicated in Fig. 19.

Preferably also I provide guiding means whereby the upstanding cover portion is a downwardly extending along the vertical side of'the guide 111 op 'two parallel llIlkS 144, the outer ends "which are pivotally connected at 145 to en- 'tween the T member 155 prevented from getting into a position back of the cover-closin means. For this purpose and as best ilustrated in Figs. 5, 21 and 23, I employ a fixed guide 133'.

For closing the cover portion 41 and as shown most clearly in Figs. 13, 15, 17, 19 and also in Figs. 10 and 11, I also mount for to and fro sliding plane upon the guide 111 a block 134 having portion 135 guided posite to the downwardly extending portion 114 of the sliding block 110. To said downwardly extending portion 135 is pivotally connected at 136 a lever 137 itself pivoted at 119 to the bracket 91 previously described.

Upstanding from the sliding block 131 are two osts 138 suitably connected to a cross mem er of which at 139 is a coil spring 140, the outer end of which is connected at 141 to the post or bracket 130 previously referred to. The said spring 140 tends to move the block 134 with its posts 138 and other parts inwardly or to the right, viewing Figs.

"10 and 11, and therefore to swin the coverclosing means into upright position, as shown in said figures. Pivotally connected at 143 to the upper end ofthe posts 138 at;

largements or lugs upon the cover-closing member 146. Said cover-closing member is pivoted at 147 at the upper inner edge of the inner upstanding wall of the trough and is adapted to be folded down into horizontal position.- Preferably I form the coverclosing member 146 with a supplemental portion- 148 normall outwardly spring pressed in any suitabIe manner, as by two coil springs 149, each surrounding a screw or bolt 150, the upper end of which is connected at 151 to said member 148 and the lower end of which is threaded at 152 and is adjustabl received in a tapped lug 153 extending rom the body of the cover-closing member. I have herein represented the body portion 146 of the cover-closing member as having a uiding extension 154 alon which the suppIemental portion may s lde, as clearly indicated in Figs. 13 and 15.

. In order to guide the free edge portion 131 of the cover into ably to fold the same for its insertion bebody of the carton and the lining, I may provide any suitable means. Herein for the purpose I have provided an-arch-like pivoted at 156 upon a vertical movement in a horizontal proper position and suit- I rod 157, itself mounted for vertical sliding movement in the upright portion of the machine frame. To the outer edge of the arch member is connected at 158 a coil spring 159, the upper end of the latter being connected at 160 to the said verticall positioned slide 157. The inner edge of tile arch member 155 has flexibly connected thereto at 

